Column: T-Shirt fiasco could be the best thing to happen to downtown yet

By Kimberley Hallas

Published: Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 04:52 PM.

Among the Salvation Army shelter, As One Ministries Day Center, Crisis Assistance Ministries, Goodwill and other missions, there are avenues provided to access IDs, medicine, computers for resumes and job searches. But for those still in the throes of addiction or seriously clouded by mental illness, the options are few.

Pathways is available for treatment, but it must be requested. Being a family accessible shelter, Salvation Army does random drug and alcohol testing. Except for the cold weather shelter provided when temperatures reach 40 degrees and lower, one must be free of substances to enter. But what can be done about those “gap” individuals, especially if some are being destructive? No one seems to have an answer for this.

A mandatory medical detox shelter and mental health assessment center would seem to be the answer. But since the Ragan administration’s defunding of such mental health facilities in the theoretical “small government” reshaping, these no longer exist in any numbers.

Greenville, S.C. has a beautiful, historic, revitalized downtown. Like us, they have a “No panhandling” law. They also have active foot patrol officers and surveillance systems in place. Gastonia leaders would do well to concentrate some resources in these areas. And stronger foot patrols would mean a proactive approach and quicker resolution to problems without chaotic blue lights deterring customers.

In addition to feeding everyone, the Salvation Army also has open rest rooms and a daily open-period for their shower facilities from 12-3 p.m. Even those “gap” homeless, regardless their condition, can go in during this time, shower and get a change of clothes. This is news to me, and to the merchants as well, I assume.

The Salvation Army is in nearly constant need of toiletries and the pantry runs low frequently. Why don’t the downtown merchants collaborate with the Salvation Army for customer donation drives in return for store discounts? Maybe quarterly drives would be feasible.

The Olive Garden sends dinner once a month with some of their employees to serve. Maybe some of our downtown restaurants could rotate a monthly service as well. Even before speaking with The Salvation Army, Sharkey’s told me they were interested in participating in positive collaborations that would bring relief to the homeless situation. They already hire hourly and “chore” type help from some of the homeless and even suggested percent- of-profits type events.

After an hour long conversation with the Hughes family of Sharkey’s, I felt nearly as frustrated as they. James, managing owner, repeated the same clear distinction between the homeless and those he considers “bums.” I was surprised to find that the Salvation Army makes this same distinction, but by another name.

As I sat inside Sharkey’s listening to the threats the family has received since the firestorm began, there lay human excrement and liquor bottles outside…again. The real chaos came one evening as a man sat eating dinner there. He watched as a vagrant urinated on the front of the building. James said the next day, this same diner returned with the now notorious T-shirts. It seems this patron is also the entrepreneurial owner of the T-shirt printing company.

Still angry from the prolonged disrespect of vagrants, James and crew wore the T-shirts to that evening’s City Council meeting. Little did they know this was a closed session meeting and they would not be allowed to attend or voice concerns.

James also noted that all the many times he called the police about the abusive vagrants, only a handful of times did he actually call to make a report. It was usually to inform officers someone had been removed and to be on alert of them. James argued that if a formal complaint or report for every incident were made he would lose customers. Who wants to eat at a place with flashing blue lights or constant police presence? But police presence may be what is needed here.

I feel for both the merchants and homeless. Small business is hard enough and these people have their entire lives invested in their businesses. On the other hand, I lost my dear, homeless half-brother last year when a car struck him. He struggled for years trying to get back on his feet.

The actual “bums” James and those shirts referred to are a small criminal element of the downtown homeless population -- a group of four or five, ages ranging from 18-25 years old. Asking other merchants on Main about similar problems, I was told there had been issues, but by only a few.

Broken windows and such have been problems, although most of the homeless have passive and even neighborly relationships with many merchants. Salvation Army Director Mark Hunter said of their population that there are the families and individuals out of work or receiving treatment that are trying to get back on their feet. Then there are the addicts and alcoholics that refuse treatment, many of whom suffer from mental illnesses.

Among the Salvation Army shelter, As One Ministries Day Center, Crisis Assistance Ministries, Goodwill and other missions, there are avenues provided to access IDs, medicine, computers for resumes and job searches. But for those still in the throes of addiction or seriously clouded by mental illness, the options are few.

Pathways is available for treatment, but it must be requested. Being a family accessible shelter, Salvation Army does random drug and alcohol testing. Except for the cold weather shelter provided when temperatures reach 40 degrees and lower, one must be free of substances to enter. But what can be done about those “gap” individuals, especially if some are being destructive? No one seems to have an answer for this.

A mandatory medical detox shelter and mental health assessment center would seem to be the answer. But since the Ragan administration’s defunding of such mental health facilities in the theoretical “small government” reshaping, these no longer exist in any numbers.

Greenville, S.C. has a beautiful, historic, revitalized downtown. Like us, they have a “No panhandling” law. They also have active foot patrol officers and surveillance systems in place. Gastonia leaders would do well to concentrate some resources in these areas. And stronger foot patrols would mean a proactive approach and quicker resolution to problems without chaotic blue lights deterring customers.

In addition to feeding everyone, the Salvation Army also has open rest rooms and a daily open-period for their shower facilities from 12-3 p.m. Even those “gap” homeless, regardless their condition, can go in during this time, shower and get a change of clothes. This is news to me, and to the merchants as well, I assume.

The Salvation Army is in nearly constant need of toiletries and the pantry runs low frequently. Why don’t the downtown merchants collaborate with the Salvation Army for customer donation drives in return for store discounts? Maybe quarterly drives would be feasible.

The Olive Garden sends dinner once a month with some of their employees to serve. Maybe some of our downtown restaurants could rotate a monthly service as well. Even before speaking with The Salvation Army, Sharkey’s told me they were interested in participating in positive collaborations that would bring relief to the homeless situation. They already hire hourly and “chore” type help from some of the homeless and even suggested percent- of-profits type events.

Closer collaboration between merchants and The Salvation Army would mean making merchants aware of the services they can direct the homeless to. I see an opportunity for unity, community, goodwill, promotions and to show others that Gastonia really does care.